Europe requests better judgment on digital era legislation

TIRANA, May 15 – The Albanian parliament postponed a debate Monday over the draft law on digital media, following advice from the European Commission that all interested parties should be included in discussions.
The draft law remains a divisive issue, pitting the governing majority of the Democratic-led government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition Socialist party led by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama.
The government has also been in an public opposition with the private Top Media group, as well as with other private television channels, cutting their broadcast in the north and the south saying they were only licensed to be locally broadcasted, not nationally.
Some coalition members of the government had also supported the opposition and private media has asked that the draft law be amended and not created to harm one group or favor another that is politically favored by the executive.
International experts have advised about the need to ensure sufficient separation between media and authorities and amendments to the electronic media law.